What is the best age to start your children doing chores around the house?

Question

I have an 8 year old son and I think it is about time that he start doing chores around the house and start contributing to the household. He has a 4 yr old brother and doesn't think it's fair that he has to do everything, whenever I ask him to do anything. He also acts like he can't comprehend simple tasks like cleaning a room and putting things back where they belong. The only thing that he does right now is help me bring groceries in and take out the trash. I don't want to wait until it's too late where he is just a lazy kid but I do need some advice on how to get the process moving?

Answer 1

You are running late on this. Better get started with the four year old, or you will have two sons who think Mom will do all the work forever.
Here's a list of what kids are capable of doing at different ages:
http://www.familyfirst.net/parenting/chorelist.asp
Try to make tidying up a game (set a timer for 15 minutes) and have the whole family participate in putting stuff away.
Good luck!

Answer 2

It is very important to teach children at a young age to start doing chores. I started doing dishes, etc. when I was about 6. I am the oldest of 4 children and the youngest is 8 now, he is so spoiled he pretends like he can't do anything also or just cries because he doesn't want to. Sometimes they need a little incentive to help get their motivation going. Try making a chart of chores and giving him a very small allowance each week if he fulfills all of the chores. He may actually enjoy helping you out if he has a little incentive. Maybe give the little chores to the 4 year old things like emptying the bathroom trash or helping when you clean to make your 8 year old feel a little better. Hope that helps, have fun!

Answer 3

The way I did my kids was to connect the work with the money. Inform your children that unless it is vital to their health all freebies they have been getting has now stopped. Tell them they may work for you to make the money for the things they want. Sit down with them and make a list of every chore that can be done inside and outside. I included manners, homework, etc. in ours. You can assign a monetary value to each chore or just say each one counts as a penny or nickle or whatever you can afford.
Make a chart and they can initial what chores they have done. At the end of whatever pay period you choose add up their salary and pay them.
The point is to not nag or fuss. They can do the work or not. If they choose not to, they will get the idea when there is no more candy, school trips, video games or anything else that is not absolutely essential.
One more thing, the chore is not finished till mom checks it out and approves of the quality of work done. This will require effort on your part but will be well worth the effort. I also insisted from the beginning that 10 percent of their earnings went to savings and 10 percent went to a charity of their choice. I hope this helps.

Answer 4

I have 5 kids and everyone from the 2yo up to the 10 yo is expected to contribute. The 2 year old will put his own dishes in the dishwasher, throw trash away, pick up his toys, clean up spills, put socks away, put dirty clothes in the hamper, etc. The easiest way to get my older children to help is to "let" them do things that they don't normally get to do that they think is fun, like my kids argue over who gets to vacuum and swiffer. My 10 yo daughter likes to wash dishes, my 7 year old likes to wipe off the dining room table. When I say "I need some help cleaning up the house, what do you want to do?" it gives them a level of control. I think that would work well with your 8 year old. He definitely should be contributing, besides cleaning up after himself. My family has never been able to follow a chore chart, but we do insist that chores are done before they can play. For example, each morning this summer toys have to be picked up in the bedroms before they can go outside to play, so playtime is the incentive to get the chores done.

Answer 5

I think you are actually a little late. Kids need to learn as soon as they are able to walk how to put their toys up, throw away the trash, and help with chores.
At 8 years old, your kid is going to just blow you off like your crazy. You probably started too late and now he expects to be treated like royalty. Make him get up off his lazy buff and do things. He already has one over on you. Your going to have to lay down rules and that takes more energy than if you would do the tasks yourself.

Answer 6

At 4 kids can pick up after themselves a bit; such as: picking up dirty clothes, picking up toys, making bed, restocking toilet paper rolls, you get the point, simple things that take about five minutes. An eight year old should be able to clean their room, clear their plate, put away their clothing, pick up trash, maybe even mow the lawn! It really is never too young for a child to help out around the house.

Answer 7

As soon as I could stand on my own two feet, my Mum had me helping around the house.

Dad made a wooden step so I could reach things up high and I started off wiping the plastic dishes, washing floors, helping to weed the garden.

As I grew so did my chores around the house. Mum had me cooking at 7 years old and Dad had me mowing at 12. I washed my own clothes as soon as I was tall enough to reach the taps. I knew how to use a jig-saw and made a house for my pet mice at 13 and I baked birthday cakes for the family (and decorating them too) from about 9.

It's never too late, but you may need to set rules and stick to them. Reward with praise, not money or 'things' too.

I'm all grown up now and I still hate doing chores but they HAVE to be done :)

Answer 8

I started my son on chores when he was 5 years old. I asked him to make his bed every morning, pick up his toys after he is done playing, and take out the garbage.

It was tough at first, but now that he is 7, he does it with no problem. I had to make it fun for him. For example, in order to get him to take out the trash, I told him that I was going to count and that I wanted to see if he can get back by the time I count to 10. It worked for me.

Answer 9

It is never to early to get kids started doing chores. I had my daughters helping me fold washclothes and dusting when they were 2 1/2 (young enough to think it was fun). That's not to say that as they get older it is that easy. While as adults we can appreciate that chores are a necessary part of life, kids aren't that easily persuaded. Try turning on the radio to their music, or playing games afterward as a reward (or whatever would makes boys be motivated - I confess I have a houseful of girls:) Expert opinions are mixed regarding paying kids to do chores, but I say whatever makes your world turn a little easier is the right choice for you. Good luck!

Answer 10

I feel you sister We started our boys at as soon as they could walk. You know picking up their toys then bigger things such as going to grab an item from toolbox or taking out small trash cans. If older one see that smaller one is doing something he wont be as hesitant. The younger ones feel proud also that they can help with this also. Remember if you start with rewards they will have to get bigger every year or more often (depending on the child) so be careful with that. We use things like getting individual time with mom or dad on weekend or going to certain park or movie (there choice) this has worked out great most of the time